viernes, 18 de enero de 2008

Inundacion! is a game about the city and its citizens, played in a workshop format over four days with approximately [twenty] players.The intention of the game is to build an exciting conversation about new urban possibilities and relationships using the scenario of a catastrophic flood as the generator.

Inundacion! is composed of a number of different stages and types of player.

The first stage consists of the creation of the catastrophic scenario and the development of characters who will respond to it. [Five] players plot a scenario of ‘creative destruction’ in one room, using given information, a map and the internet.In a separate room [five] teams of [at least two players] each develop a given character with a particular style and secret objective (combined at random).These characters prepare strategies and tactics for negotiating with the other players when the catastrophe hits, with the goal of achieving their secret objective.They will also have access to the internet and a map. In the meantime [two] news-reporters, one CNN-style and one ‘grassroots blogger’ develop their broadcasting approach - they will be the ones who ferry information between the two rooms as the catastrophe unfolds.Of course, they each have their own political bias too.

The second stage begins when characters receive information from the news-reporters about the catastrophe.At this moment the rounds of negotiation with other players begins.A narrative is developed in reaction to the situation, with players taking it in turn to build on the response of the previous character.Players can interrupt the flow by using a limited number of coins.Each round in this way builds a ‘script’.Between the rounds fresh information about the catastrophe is delivered by the news-reporters.The next round will start from the implications of this news for the existing script.Players will have to decide which news-reporters’ opinion they trust.

The final stage will be a public analysis on the final afternoon of the workshop, where the proceedings of the game will be discussed with the players, m7red and [guest experts], as well as any other interested parties.We hope that this will culminate in a series of fresh perspectives on the city and the involvement of citizens in urban planning processes.

>>Who will the players be?Could they include some city officials? Students from a local university?Bienniale participants? (Who are the sponsors of the event?)

>>In which city will the catastrophe unfold?

Buenos Aires? Mauricio and Pio have experience of co-ordinating this situation, but at the same time are tired of it!

New Orleans?Topical city with international imagination of it.A lot of information available and varied and controversial opinions.Stereotype risk, as well as (too) widespread knowledge of what actually happened?Risk that participants will think that game is only about New Orleans, rather than recognising with wider implications? Possibility of a contrefactual account – what if Katrina had unfolded differently? What about the ‘sensitivity’ of situation and the negative perceptions of it being madeinto a ‘game’?On the other hand the collective imagination of Katrina could generate more energy?

Costa Rica?Transplant of the game to a local situation.Risk of entrenched opinions and stereotypes because of local knowledge?Or attraction of local relevance?Possibility of generating new perspectives on immediate context for both locals and international visitors? Could the theme of the exhibition (DoubtfulStrait) gives us some clues?

A ‘SimCity’ abstract city?Escapes stereotype problems (?) but at the same time lacks existing complexities and layers of imagination about it.Problem of how to produce an engaging map of it, rather thandiagrammatic sketch.Would it be constructed beforehand by m7red or would the ‘scenario builders’ construct it?No concrete information available but possibility of combining existing flood information from many different places.

Another ‘real’ location?

>>How do the rounds of negotiation work exactly (Pio’s coin strategy?) and how long do they last for?

>>In what format do the news-reporters deliver their information?As a performance, or a written script, or on their blogs?

>>How will the script be recorded and reviewed?By microphone (sound), by video (film), by hand (transcribed)?

>>Which tools need to be developed beforehand by m7red? eg. map, introduction (powerpoint?!), basic information, character options, summary of the rules?

Public Analysis – who will be invited, what format will it use? Is it possible to get local ‘experts’ as a team of advisers to be present during some of the game?

Where can we get a superb bottle of Pirate Rum for the prize for the best character?!